July 2009
58 posts
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LIVING WITH THE RECESSION: 2 OF 5.
Ed. note: Welcome to the second installment of the five part series, Living With the Recession by author and executive consultant Granville Toogood, who also happens to be my uncle as well. For more information on Granville, visit his website [here].
Cheap Chow That’s Good for You
Before the soufflé hit the fan last fall, it would never have occurred to me to whip a great meal for two for less...
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REMINDER: USE YOUR SKILLS TO PAY THE BILLS.
(Ed. Note) I am resurrecting this post from the dead because I believe in Flying Cart and I know there are some crafty 405ers out there who will be thrilled to use this service at 50% off with The 405 Club discount.
Thank god for family. Since unemployment I’ve tried to use some of the time to reconnect with aunts and uncles I didn’t leave enough time for during my grind in the workforce. In...
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UNEMPLOYMENT BAD, YET EXPECTED.
The Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report has been released. Seasonally adjusted initial claims rose to 584,000, which was inside the Bloomberg consensus range of 565K to 600K. From the report:
In the week ending July 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 584,000, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 559,000. The 4-week moving average...
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How Do I Land an Interview?
(Ed. Note) There’s so much advice going around about cover letters — some better than others — however, I’ve found this article by Kate Lorenz via Ask The Work Buzz! to be extremely clear and helpful. I hope you agree. Don’t forget, you can ask our Human Resources specialists questions via the Ask HR feature [here].
Jim writes: What do I need to do to just get an...
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I AM FAMOUS FOR BEING UNEMPLOYED.
Ed. note: Welcome to the latest installment of “Janet Raiffa’s Recessionals,” a column by a laid-off recruiting manager in New York. Prior columns are collected [here]. You can reach Janet Raiffa via LinkedIn, leaving a comment here, or emailing 405club@gmail.com.
In my investment banking days I used to joke with colleagues about my being the “Paris Hilton of MBA Recruiting.” Each time our...
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Jottings From The Job Enthusiast.
There may or may not be gold in them thar hills according to rumor two centuries ago during the Gold Rush in America, but there is immediate training monies currently available for certain financial industry laid off individuals in New York State.
If you were laid off after June 1st, 2008 from a major financial firm or bank in New York such as Citibank NA, Bank of New York, Lehman Brothers,...
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Ask HR: Resume Creativity.
Dear HR,
I recently had my resume critiqued by a recruiter. The recruiter liked the content but did not like the format. The format is exactly what my business school uses for all of its students. Should I try to create a resume which does not adhere to a “normal” looking resume?
Sincerely, Resume Inquirer
—-
Dear Resume Inquirer,
Although there are countless books on...
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20 THINGS TO DO UNDER $25 IN NYC.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a good time in New York City - especially in the summer. Long Island “staycationers,” who this year are passing on a pricey trip to Europe or weeklong getaway, can find plenty of entertainment to fill a day or evening in the city.
Here are 20 ideas to help you get started. Most are cheap or free - those that do cost a little more...
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SUNDAY BLOG BRUNCH: JOBLESS AND LESS.
(Ed.Note) Welcome to the newest feature on The 405 Club… A look into the world of recession blogs! The 405 Club wants to get personal via 10 questions with our favorite fellow bloggers who are documenting the recession and unemployment firsthand.
This week’s brunch companion is Norm Elrod of Jobless and Less.
1. When were you laid off? Or are you employed?
I was laid off at the...
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WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS CLAIM REMINDER.
My how time flies when you’re having fun. It’s that time of the week again to claim your unemployment benefits [click here for the NY Department of Labor site].
For more information on unemployment benefits and eligibility check out our 405er Tips on our FAQ Wiki [here].
Join the “Question About Maximum Amount Payable” discussion on our Ning Network Forum [here].
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SATURDAY FUNNY PAGES.
Submit & suggest comics: send an email to 405club@gmail.com.
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LIVING WITH THE RECESSION: 1 OF 5.
Ed. note: Welcome to the first installment of a new five part series, Living With the Recession by author and executive consultant Granville Toogood, who also happens to be my uncle as well. For more information on Granville, visit his website [here].
Build It and They Will Come
When Jack lost his job in November he suddenly found himself feeling depressed and alone in the house–until one day he...
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UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS BEGIN RETURN TO NORMALCY.
I can’t commit to a good / bad news headline this week. The Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report has been released. Unfortunately, due to the auto industry revisions from the last two reports, it is difficult to decide whether the report represents good news or not. New claims came in at 554,000, which was a bit below the Bloomberg consensus of 560,000 (well within the consensus range of...
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SHOULD I RETRAIN? SHOULD I BECOME CERTIFIED?
Ed. note: Welcome to the new installment of Gloria Schramm’s “Notes from A One Stop,” a social commentary documenting Gloria’s experiences as a One Stop Career Counselor. You can reach Gloria Schramm by leaving a comment here or emailing 405club@gmail.com.
Those are the questions one asks oneself when one is out of work for a prolonged period of time and has exhausted his or her contacts and been...
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INBOX 405: What is your favorite Cheap Eats Meal?
With the latest issues of Time Out and New York Magazine featuring cover stories on Cheap Eats, it was only a matter of time before The 405 Club — full of deal seekers, recessionistas and nutritionistas — had to compile our own list of the real Cheap Eats.
As you know The 405 Club loves to take care of our members, so not only is the member-generated list going to benefit everyone,...
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FIGHTING TO BE RELEVANT; PODCASTING MY WAY TO...
Ed. note: Laurie Dillon-Schalk teaches the downsized how to use social media to get a job and is the author of Social Wisdom. You can reach Laurie Dillon-Schalk by leaving a comment here or emailing 405club@gmail.com.
I really identify with anyone laid off who is in IT, science, advertising or any other discipline moving at the speed of light. It can be a real struggle to get back in the game,...
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MY WEEK IN REVIEW: EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES AND THE...
Ed. note: Welcome to the latest installment of “Janet Raiffa’s Recessionals,” a column by a laid-off recruiting manager in New York. Prior columns are collected [here]. You can reach Janet Raiffa via LinkedIn, leaving a comment here, or emailing 405club@gmail.com.
In the last week new opportunities appeared on the scene, I continued with a series of odd jobs in one hour to half-day increments...
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT.
Last week was a great week press-wise for The 405 Club. On Monday we were fortunate enough to be featured in an unemployment blog article within The NY Post [link] and on Friday Long Island’s Newsday highlighted the club with their article “Unemployed? Join The 405 Club” [link].
We couldn’t be happier to raise awareness of our club across Long Island. Many of our members...
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VERY SUPERSTITIOUS, WRITING'S ON THE WALL.
I’ve never been an incredibly superstitious man. You may have seen me jump over the 1st and 3rd base foul line on a baseball field for good luck, but never really believed that stepping on a crack would break my mother’s back. I’ve walked under ladders and crossed the path of many-a black cat, apparently fortunate enough to tell the tale as I’m still alive and healthy. ...
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WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM REMINDER.
Looking at the clock it seems that it’s time to claim your unemployment benefits [click here for the NY Department of Labor site]. For more information on unemployment benefits and eligibility check out our 405er Tips on our FAQ Wiki [here].
Human Clock shot by Romain Laurent for WAD.
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Ask HR: Feedback Post Interview.
Ed. note: Ask HR is a brand new featured series on The 405 Club which gives you full access to the Human Resource Department. With this Q&A feature you can ask real Human Resource representives anything you’ve ever wanted to know - they’re here to help! Submit questions [here].
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Dear HR,
We had our interview. I wrote a thank you note and mentioned an idea that gives you a sense of...
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HERE'S TO HOPING YOUR INTERVIEWS GO BETTER THAN...
While it’s important for us to pass along informational resources and job seeking tips, it’s equally important to have a good laugh and stay positive. Enjoy yourself as this clip from You, Me and Dupree takes you into the weekend.
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PINK SLIP LEMONADE.
“When life gives you a dilemma, make dilemonade,” says Danny Tanner of the popular 80’s sitcom Full House. Words to live by, they are. Albeit a little cheesy, the message is extremely relatable to us, the downsized. I was recently reading an article on yourhrguy.com, one of the best human resources blogs (according to the Fist of Talent rankings [here], which touched on 15...
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NOW FEATURING FEATURED FEATURES.
Janet Raiffa’s Recessionals: A satirical, witty and informative column by a laid-off recruiting manager in New York. Follow her experiences as she takes on the world of unemployment one $8/hour job at a time to keep herself busy between sending out resumes. Prior columns are collected [here].
Notes From A One-Stop: A social commentary documenting Gloria Schramm’s experiences as a One Stop...
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UNEMPLOYMENT WORSENS.
This week’s Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report has been released. Like last week, the seasonally adjusted numbers fell. Unfortunately, like last week, the seasonally adjusted numbers are skewed because auto industry layoffs struck early this year. In “Jobless Claims Drop, but Clouded by Auto Shutdowns,” Yahoo Finance reports:
The number of newly laid-off Americans signing up...
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17 RULES FOR JOB SEEKERS.
Michael Wade from Execupundit.com shares a useful list of rules for job seekers:
The job that is a sure thing isn’t.
Most employers who ask for a college degree are less interested in your coursework than the fact that you got the degree. In other words, there is hope for English majors.
On the resume and in the interview, don’t talk about how hard you worked. Stress what was achieved.
Don’t...
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FINANCIAL EXECUTIVES NEED NOT APPLY!
My curiosity got the best of me when a former six-figure financial executive came to me as a customer seeking training and employment. He was part of a massive layoff in a big, renowned Manhattan bank.
Though his circumstances weren’t unusual, what he said to me when recounting his latest interview, was. His skill level was not the problem. After all, the new position called for those exact skills...
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT.
There’s no Photoshop work done here folks - not even Gimp, MS Picture Manager or Photoscape. In case you missed it, The 405 Club was featured in The NY Post yesterday [link].
The article is appropriately titled “When the going gets tough, the unemployed BLOG.” Ironically Sheila McClear, the writer of the article, is also unemployed and looking for full-time employment. Welcome...
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INBOX 405: Are you looking to change...
We want to hear from you on this one. Personally I, Garrett, am changing fields into the digital world, but not necessarily industries, most likely building off of my experience in entertainment. My counterpart Jose however, is looking to stay in asset management - loved his job and would like to continue his path in finance. Are you taking this downsized situation to make a career change? Join...
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PERHAPS GRAD SCHOOL.
There are people out there right now who love their work. They delight in it. A man recently featured on NPR owns a turtle rescue hospital in Orlando, FL and literally pays to do his job. “That’s love,” he says coyly. And then there are many of us who are in jobs we abhore. We wake up and drag ourselves out of bed. We drink 2 cups of coffee and read most of the New York Times by...
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I AM PROVIDING RESUME ASSISTANCE FOR THE MORE...
Ed. note: Welcome to the latest installment of “Janet Raiffa’s Recessionals,” a column by a laid-off recruiting manager in New York. Prior columns are collected [here]. You can reach Janet Raiffa via LinkedIn, leaving a comment here, or emailing 405club@gmail.com.
Four months have now elapsed since my layoff. In between emailing resumes, interviews, and meetings with headhunters I’ve done...
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LIFE MAY BE A BEACH. BUT UNEMPLOYMENT IS NOT.
So, it was a beautiful day out and you packed up and headed for the shore. Stretched out, got some rays. Packed up, went home, took a shower and laid down for a while. Got up, turned on the TV, had a meal. Got a call from a friend, headed to a bar for a beer or two — and maybe a game of pool. After all, there’s no job to report to on Monday so you may as well enjoy your...
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Elizabeth Smith calls into JobRadio.fm with...
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100 MOTIVATIONAL POSTS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.
Being unemployed can land a painful blow to your self-esteem, but you don’t have to let it happen. Let your unemployment work for you as a tool for growth that can allow you to find more from life. PsychologyDegree.net has compiled 100 blog posts to help guide you through it all with ideas on staying positive, resources for surviving a recession, help with finding a job, interview tips,...
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WHAT HIRING MANAGERS LOOK FOR DURING INTERVIEWS. →
What are hiring managers trained to look for during interviews? Heather Huhman from Entry Level Careers Examiner shared some advice on the subject:
Likeability. Do you get along with the hiring manager? Does the hiring manager feel you will get along with his or her team? This is a big factor. I know when I see myself in candidates, I find myself leaning toward them more than individuals who...
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WAIT A TICK, THE 405 CLUB IS POSTING JOBS?
True story. On occasion The 405 Club is approached by recruiters, human resource managers and the like in search of the richest talent in New York. In the past we either blasted the jobs via network messages, posted them in the forums or even within the industry group page on our Ning Network, another great reason to officially “join the club” [here]. In efforts to streamline the...
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MAKE YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS WORK FOR YOU.
-By Gloria Schramm, Career Counselor, Contributing Writer and Author of “The Hardworker Says.”
To obtain government-funded free training through Workforce NY (WIA) which is schooling to upgrade your current skills, you need to go to the One Stop Career Center of your residency. There are plenty of one stop centers near your home, wherever you live and they are all called by...
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NAME THIS ROCKSTAR.
Do you know who this is? Here’s a couple hints:
* English rock musician, singer, songwriter, and peace activist who gained worldwide fame with a extremely influential rock band. Married Yoko Ono on March 20, 1969.
Answer the question in the field below with your email address to enter to win 2 tickets to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex in NYC, now including an exhibition of this...
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TOO YOUNG TO RETIRE BUT NOT TOO OLD TO WORK.
Ed. note: Welcome to the new installment of“Notes from A One Stop,” a social commentary documenting The Job Enthusiast’s experiences as a One Stop Career Counselor. In this article she tackles the prevalent issue of Ageism. Enjoy.
“Cut Back: Facing Ageism,” is a short documentary made by a mature woman, Patricia Sahertian, 55, a graphic artist who relocated to Port Jefferson, Long Island...
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I AM SEEKING WORK AS A DEAD BODY.
Ed. note: Welcome to the latest installment of “Janet Raiffa’s Recessionals,” a column by a laid-off recruiting manager in New York. Prior columns are collected [here]. You can reach Janet Raiffa via LinkedIn, leaving a comment here, or emailing 405club@gmail.com.
Having determined that no employers are interested in my living body, I have decided to seek work as a dead body. Well, perhaps...
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PERCEPTION CAN BE REALITY.
Ed. note: Allow me to introduce newcomer Laurie Dillon-Schalk. Laurie teaches the downsized how to use social media to get a job and is the author of Social Wisdom. We are extremely excited to welcome her to The 405 Club. You can reach Laurie Dillon-Schalk by leaving a comment here or emailing 405club@gmail.com.
I’ve been volunteering/consulting in social recruiting lately - a high demand...
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CHECK YOUR VOICEMAIL.
With all the phone calls that you make and all the voicemails that you leave, do you ever wonder what you sound like to others?
Imagine you are calling a networking contact; dial your house phone from your cell phone, or vice versa. Leave a message. Then take a break before you check and see how your voicemail sounds.
If you’re not happy with the result, then practice, practice, practice...
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GET A JOB: A ROCK & ROLL CLASSIC.
Could those be your parents in the audience of this old kinescope recording — or perhaps your grandparents? Back in 1958 a doo-wop group named the Silhouettes had a hit song called “Get A Job”. While the lyrics were not extraordinary, what made the song stand out was the catchy “a capella” intro and refrain. After the group made several appearances on Dick...
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THE MOST DREADED INTERVIEW QUESTION.
“What’s your biggest weakness?”
If your resume is good enough to get you an interview, you probably won’t escape this question. Hiring managers inevitably ask it, and job candidates invariably loathe it.
Some uninformed job seekers, however, do a complete face plant in response, giving answers like these real-life ones supplied by top hiring professionals:
*...
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YOGA FOR NYC'S UNEMPLOYED.
Being broke can be rough but being unemployed in this city is one of the most stressful and defeating experience a New Yorker can face. There’s a constant needling sense of failure, desperation and fear. Every minute you spend not looking for a job is a guilt-filled one and losing sleep at night doesn’t make the search any easier.
The best thing I found was to set limits on my panicking and...
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DON’T BLOW IT.
This may be a holiday weekend but that’s no reason to blow it. The sooner you file your weekly unemployment benefits claim, the sooner those funds will be transferred to your bank account. Get online and go to the NY Department of Labor website [link]. For more information on unemployment benefits and eligibility check out our 405er Tips on our FAQ Wiki [here].
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LOSE YOUR JOB, KEEP YOUR PURCHASE, FORGET THE...
Acknowledging that skittish consumers are still unwilling to buy big-ticket items, Sears tomorrow plans to unveil a bold new guarantee: if you lose your job after charging a purchase worth $399 or more to your Sears card, the retailer will credit 1/12th of the purchase price to your account for each month you are unemployed. If you stay jobless for one year, the debt is entirely forgiven, and the...
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HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY FROM THE 405 CLUB!
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FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Do you have a daughter in debt who is still financially dependant? Are you a female in debt who would be willing to get advice from a finance coach and your parents in order to be liberated from creditors calling you?
According to some of the e-mails I received after a previous post, a few of you are. That’s why Soapnet and BBC Worldwide America, Inc., have teamed up to help young women...